Beverage carton and container for cooling

ABSTRACT

A carton of laminate material to hold beverage containers with provision to open a portion of the top of the carton to provide a receptacle to receive a coolant such as ice to cool the beverage containers.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is related to beverage cartons or cases and in particular to beverage cartons for beverage cans or bottles with provision to retain ice to cool the beverage containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Beverages such as soda and beer are typically sold in cartons or containers either as six-packs or in cartons of twelve or twenty-four beverage containers. It is often desirable for the consumer to buy beverages in case carton sizes of twelve or twenty-four beverage containers and take the containers to an outing where the beverage is consumed. It is often desirable to drink the beverages cooled so that a container housing the beverages with provision to provide the addition of a coolant such as ice is also desirable.

[0003] Attempts have been made in the past to provide such a beverage container which holds the containers in a carton size for point of purchase sale and provide the ability to add a coolant material to chill the beverage containers.

[0004] An example of such a prior device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,303,863 to Arasim. This patent discloses a carton to hold twelve or twenty-four beverage cans and includes a cut-out top panel member under which is provided a foldable paperboard blank which is then folded to form an elevated chamber above the beverage containers to hold ice to chill the beverage containers. The foldable blank is not unitary with the beverage containing carton and requires manipulation to assemble.

[0005] Another similar structure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,343 to Dalvey which also shows a carton to hold beverage containers with a pop-up fold-out top to retain ice to cool the beverage cans.

[0006] Another expandable carton to retain ice is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,727 to Strong et al. The Strong et al. expandable container is openable at one end to allow expansion of a side portion to retain ice for cooling the beverages.

[0007] Other examples of expandable cartons for beverages which are cooled are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,982 to Swindel and U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,359 to Demars et al. Further examples of foldable containers which are disposable and are adapted to retain beverage cans or bottles in a cool state are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,284,294 to Floyd 5,170,934 to Lemoine, 5,263,339 to Evans, and 4,328,923 to Graser. A further example of an expandable container is U.S. Pat. No. 5,307,986 to Schuster.

[0008] A still further example of a carton to retain beverages with the provision of ice is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,346,167 to Schmidt. The Schmidt patent discloses a two-part carton container with an interior section slidably housed within an exterior member and when the interior section is slid out a lid is removably opened to allow ice to be placed in the carton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention a beverage holding carton is made from a flat sheet of a laminate material which helps to prevent water leakage and is folded from the flat sheet to a rectangular box-like carton shape suitable to retain twelve or twenty-four beverage cans or bottles. In the folded shape, a severable cut-out member is provided in the upper panel surface of the carton which may be severed from the carton material to form an opening with side flaps to allow the addition of ice to the beverage container to cool the beverage cans or bottles. Another cut-out portion is provided on a side panel of the container which is easily severable to provide a hand hold opening so that the beverage carton can be readily carried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view, before assembly, of the laminate sheet used to form the carton of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 which is expanded to show the laminate layers of the carton of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1, showing the laminate sheet in a flat state;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an isometric view showing an initial folding step to form the carton of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an isometric view showing a further step of folding the laminate of the present invention to form the beverage carton;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

[0016]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

[0017]FIGS. 8 and 9 are isometric views showing further folding steps to form the carton of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 10 is an isometric view showing the carton of the present invention in the folded state;

[0019]FIG. 11 is a partially exploded isometric view showing a further step in use of the carton of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 12 is an isometric view the carton of the present invention ready for use; and

[0021]FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0022] As shown in the drawings, the carton 10 of the present invention (see FIG. 10) is fabricated from a unitary sheet 12 formed of a multi-layer composite material. The composite material may be fabricated according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,173, which disclosure is incorporated herein by reference, and comprises an outer polymer film 14 bonded to an intermediate metalized film 16 which is in turn bonded to a metallic layer 18 which is in turn bonded by a laminating resin layer 20 to secure the laminate to a paper board material 22. The resultant composite material provides tear resistance to the composite and prevents leakage of water when the ice used with the carton melts.

[0023] As set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,254,173, the plastic film may be formed of polyethylene terapthalate, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene or cellophane. The outer plastic layer 14 is clear to permit view of printing on the metalized film which will become visible from exterior of the carton.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 1, the carton blank is provided with a plurality of predisposed fold lines to facilitate folding the blank into the desired shape. The fold lines may be formed in any suitable manner by perforations, scoring or other marking or indentation to predispose the composite material to bend readily at the fold line. The carton blank 12 includes a first side panel 24, a top panel 26, a second side panel 28, a bottom panel 30, and a side panel 32. Side panels 24 and 32 are of a lesser height than the opposite side panel 28 as side panel 24 folds partially over the extent of side panel 32 so that when in the folded condition the height of the side panel 28 and the combination of side panels 24 and 32 are of the same height.

[0025] Side panel 24 includes end flaps 34 and 36 integrally connected to side flap 24 by fold lines 38 and 40. Flap 24, also includes a portion 42 which is partially scored or perforated so that when the carton is fully assembled and portion 42 is severed a convenient handhold opening is provided to carry the carton filled with beverage cans or bottles.

[0026] Side panel 24 is integrally connected to top panel 26 at a fold line 44. Top panel 26 includes end flaps 46 and 48, respectively, integrally connected to the top panel by fold lines 50 and 52, respectively. In addition, top panel 26 includes a central oval-shaped portion, which can be of any desired shape, circumscribed by perforations 54 which permit the central area 56 defined by the perforations to be removed in use for the insertion of ice as a coolant. A punch tab 58 is provided in one portion of the cental cut-out which is punched out to permit grasping of the central panel 56 and its removal along the perforations 54. End flaps 46 and 48 are also inwardly tapered as at 60 for ease of construction of the carton when it is folded into its final shape.

[0027] Top panel 26 is integrally connected to end panel 28 at fold line 62. Side panel 28 includes end flaps 64 and 66 which are inwardly angled at one edge as at 68 and 69. The other end of end flaps 64 and 66 include a pair of fold lines 70 and 72, respectively, which fold inwardly upon the respective fold lines to form a gusseted end corner when the carton is fully assembled. The fold lines 70 and 72 form a triangle shape extending outwardly from the marginal corners of side panel 28. As best seen in FIG. 4, these fold inwardly on assembly of the carton to form the gusseted corners in the carton bottom.

[0028] Side panel 28 is integral with bottom panel 30 at fold line 74. Bottom panel 30 includes end flaps 76 and 78, respectively, which are integrally connected with panel 30 at fold lines 80 and 82, respectively. Bottom panel 30 is integral with partial side panel 32 at fold line 84 and similar to end panel 28 side panel 32 includes end flaps 86 and 88, respectively, integrally connected with panel 32 at fold lines 90 and 92, respectively. Similar to side panel 28, side panel 32 is provided with triangular fold lines 94 and 96, respectively, which also fold inwardly upon themselves to form a gusseted corner.

[0029] Thus, the bottom of the carton, when fully assembled, includes at its four lower corners gusseted corners which provide an additional layer of material to prevent leakage of water from melted ice while the container is in use.

[0030] In assembling the container to its closed shape, a first step, as seen in FIG. 4, is to fold side panel 32 and side panel 28 along the respective fold lines to partially form the container. The triangular interior portion defined by fold lines 94, 96 and 70 and 72, are inwardly bent to permit end flaps 76 and 78 to be folded upwardly towards a perpendicular relationship with bottom panel 30.

[0031] As best seen in FIG. 5, when this procedure has been accomplished and end flaps 76 and 78 are suitably sealed by an adhesive to the flaps 64, 66 and 86, 88. At this juncture, beverage containers may be placed in the bottom of the carton 10. Top panel 26 is now folded over along its fold line 62. Finally, partial end panel 24 which includes the handhold opening 42 is folded downwardly on its fold line 44 and end flaps 34 and 36 are folded inwardly along fold lines 38 and 40 and suitably sealed by adhesive or the like. As a last step, end flaps 46 and 48 are folded downwardly along their fold lines 50 and 52 and suitably sealed by an adhesive to secure the top panel of the carton to complete formation of the carton.

[0032] As best seen in FIG. 10, the end panel formed by end panels 24 and 32 are designed so that handhold opening 42 is above the top edge 98 of end panel 32 so that there is no interference in the handhold opening area.

[0033] As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, when it is desired to provide ice for cooling the beverages in carton 10 central panel 56 is removed along the perforated score lines 54 and the top panel which is provided with partial diagonal perforated lines 100, extending inwardly from each corner to the central opening, is pulled upwardly to separate the top panel into four flaps 102, 104, 106 and 108 to provide a partial housing to confine ice added to the container.

[0034] When the now severed flaps 102, 104, 106 and 108, are pulled upwardly, a housing is formed which allows retention of ice on top of the beverage containers within carton 10 to cool the containers prior to consumption of the beverages.

[0035] The present invention has the added advantage of being disposable after consumption of the beverages therefore a separate container for cooling beverages on an outing is not necessary. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A carton for packaging and storing a plurality of beverage containers and selectively cooling said beverage containers therein comprising: a substantially rectangular in plan carton having a top and bottom panel interconnected by side and end panels to form a beverage container receiving space therein; said top panel including a central area spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of said top panel defined by perforations which permit removal of a portion of the central area of said top panel; a plurality of perforations extending diagonally inwardly from each corner of said top panel to the perforations in said central area; whereby when said central area is removed the remainder of said top panel is elevated by severing the carton material at said diagonal perforations to form an open top receptacle to receive a cooling media to cool said beverage containers.
 2. The carton of claim 1 wherein each corner of said carton at the juncture of each end panel and said bottom panel includes a portion folded inwardly to form a gusset to provide additional insulation to prevent leakage of liquid.
 3. The carton of claim 1 wherein the carton is formed of a laminate material.
 4. The carton of claim 3 wherein the laminate material comprises an outer plastic layer bonded to a layer of metalized film bonded to a metallic layer and bonded to a paper board base by a laminating resin.
 5. The carton of claim 4 wherein said outer plastic layer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terpthalate, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene or cellophane.
 6. The carton of claim 1 wherein at least one of said side panels includes a central area partially perforated to provide a handhold opening when the partial perforated portion is separated along said perforations.
 7. A planar blank to form a carton for beverage containers with provision to hold cooling media in contact with said beverage containers comprising: a first panel member for forming a portion of a side of said carton integral with a second panel member to form the top of said carton along a fold line; said first panel member including a pair of flaps at each end integral with said first panel member along a fold line; said second panel member integrally connected to a third panel member forming a side of said carton at a fold line; said second panel member further including a pair of end flaps integrally connected to said second panel at respective fold lines; said fold lines in said second panel forming a rectangle; said second panel including a central area spaced inwardly from the rectangle formed by said fold lines defined by perforations which permit removal of the central area; perforations extending inwardly from the corners of said rectangle to said perforations in said central area; said third panel member integrally connected to a fourth panel member at a fold line, said fourth penal member forming a bottom of said carton; said fourth panel member integrally connected to a fifth panel at a fold line; said first and fifth panel members having less of a lateral extent than said third panel member wherein when said panel members are folded at said respective fold lines to be perpendicular to each other a carton is formed from said blank.
 8. The blank of claim 7 wherein said third and fifth panel members include end flaps integrally connected at a respective fold line to each said panel member and wherein a fold line is formed extending from the juncture of the fold lines of said flaps and said fourth panel member at an angle to form a gusseted corner when said blank is folded into a carton.
 9. The blank of claim 7 wherein the blank is formed of a laminate material.
 10. The blank of claim 9 wherein the laminate material comprises an outer plastic layer bonded to a layer of metalized film bonded to a metallic layer and bonded to a paper board base by a laminating resin.
 11. The blank of claim 10 wherein said outer plastic layer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terpthalate, polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene or cellophane. 